“Seeing the inbreaking reign of God when most do not, the follower of Jesus is overjoyed at the opportunity to participate in the kingdom’s dynamic advance in every area, economic life included. Living simply, not hoarding wealth, and trusting God to meet basic material needs are practices that free people to offer generosity to and seek justice for and with the poor and hungry and, in general, to follow Jesus. Finally, in turning hearts and eyes in this direction they themselves enjoy the added benefit of a remarkable personal liberation that yanks them from greed, acquisitiveness, and a fruitless worry over treasures that will all too soon pass away.”
David P. Gushee in “The Economic Ethics of Jesus” in Faithful Economics: The Moral Worlds of a Neutral Science, ed. James W. Henderson and John Pisciotta (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2005) 124.
What if submitting to the reign of God and turning our hearts and eyes toward Jesus rather than things is an invitation to “remarkable personal liberation” for everyone? Have you taken hold of it? Or are you filled with “fruitless worry” linked to treasures? Perhaps it is time to revisit the economic instructions of Jesus (cf. Matthew 6:19-34).